Chapter Text
You sat across from your best friend on the Hogwarts Express. Listening to the chug of the train and the laughter of your fellow students. Kira was beautiful. Tall with black, wavy hair. Her eyes shining like copper coins. You started having feelings for her last year but never cared to express them. The train pulled to a stop and you stood up, grabbing your things and shuffling off the train, like every year. She was overtaking the conversation again as you walked to the magically drawn carriage, but you didn't mind listening. You looked out at the night sky. Slightly cloudy, the full moon's light shone through ominously. You went through the motions like every school year; walking into the great hall, dazzling at the magical ceiling, and sitting down at your house table. You were a Slytherin, something nobody expected. You yourself didn't even expect it the night the sorting hat called it out. But there you were, and you fit right it. The people there really weren't bad. Perhaps a few are a little biased but this wasn't the 10th-century wizarding community anymore. You remember how you had cried when you walked into the dorm, thinking you were meant to be evil. A 7th year had walked over to you, comforting you. Telling you that just because you got sorted into the house with the worst reputation it didn't mean you were a bad person. Kira was also a Slytherin, but you didn't remember seeing her crying. McGonagall stood up, tapping on a glass and a great hush came over the hall. Many nervous first years awaited sorting. At this point, the process was a bore so you turned to talk to your copper-eyed friend, who to your disappointment, was following the process closely. Not in the mood to talk it seems.
"Pst. Why so interested?" you whispered, punching her playfully in the arm.
"I told you earlier, it's my sister's first year."
That explains it. You waited until you heard her sister's name called before paying any attention. Though the words were almost lost in the cheers of the table. The sorting hat shouted in its gravelly voice, "Ravenclaw!" I glanced over the see Kira's smile fade but she still clapped for her sister. The rest of the feast went off without a hitch and by the end of it, you were ready to collapse onto a soft bed in the dorm. As you walked down into the dungeons you wrapped your robes tighter around you. It was always so cold down here. You were too tired to hear the password but you were sure it was going to be posted in the common room tomorrow morning. The common room was simply mystical. The giant squid passed and you heard the oo's and ah's of the younger and older students alike. No time to revel in the beauty now. You found Kira in the crowd and told her you were heading to bed, though you doubted you would get a quiet sleep. The first few nights were usually parties and most years you attended the first one. You decided you'd have to catch tomorrow's though. Yawning, you trudged up the stairs to the girl's dormitory. As soon as you got there you fell into the soft, cloud-like mattress. It could simply swallow you up and you wouldn't object. You mustered enough energy to change before crawling under the sheets. You were right, music blared from down below, and you could hear some people creeping in at strange times. It was fine though, you still fell asleep.
You looked at the clock, blurry with your sleep-filled eyes. 2 am and the party was over already? Hm. The dorm was silent except for the rustle of sheets and another noise. Crying? You sat up looking over at the bed across from you and saw the blankets rising and falling in strange ways. Definitely crying.
"Hey, you ok?" you asked in a hushed tone.
The other sat up, it was a first year. Her eyes were red and puffy and she seemed to have been crying for a while.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." you were already rather sure of what it was though.
"Am I evil? I mean, I got sorted into the evil house. And now my friends won't talk to me because they are in the good houses. The brave ones and the smart ones and the kind ones."
You explained to her what you yourself were told when you cried about the same thing. You got up and sat next to her, opening your arms and making a hug available if she wanted it. She did. Hugging you tight and burying her wet face into your chest. She whispered thank you and you even took the extra step of tucking her in. Crawling back into your own bed you now had trouble sleeping. Not the tossing a turning type, just thinking. Thinking about how many must feel awful for being sorted into Slytherin. How many lost friends or even family. It wasn't ok. You wanted to fix it. You formulated a plan. A good one, at least to your troubled thoughts. You couldn't sleep the whole night and were up and dressed before anyone else. Kira woke up second. She was always an early riser and looked perfect while doing so. You walked over to her bed greeting her with a simple "Morning, sunshine.". She blushed. asking what you meant by sunshine and you replied that it meant nothing. You were lying. You both walked down to the hall for breakfast. She was the most talkative of the two of you and in your opinion most likely to be popular if she stopped hanging around you. Of course, you would never say that, you liked her hanging around you. She had her hair tied up into a ponytail and it exposed her face rather nicely. She had two long scars running down her cheek. You could guess what they were from but never bothered to ask, didn't want to make an awkward conversation. You had commented on how interesting they were once and she seemed rather uncomfortable so you never bothered with the topic again. She had freckles sprinkling her face. Even though you had been friends for many years there was still much you didn't know. You thought of what you did know. You knew her dad died in a car crash. That she loves freshly brewed tea and is allergic to bees, but not too bad. You know that she is almost fully blind in one eye. You know that she loves turtles and talking about them. BAM! You get shaken out of your trance, head throbbing. You felt Kira's hands on your face, gently touching the tender spot on your forehead.
"You ok?" her soft voice rang out.
"Mhm."
That was all you could manage. She asked if you wanted to be taken to the infirmary. You swiftly replied no. Standing up, you looked at the door you ran into and continued your walk into the great hall. The smell of food filled your senses and you sat down, eagerly digging into a plate of pancakes. You forgot how good the food here was. You ate at the feast last night but with all the excitement you barely savored the taste. It was over too soon and you, along with many other students, walked away down the halls to your classes. First-class was potions. You weren't too good at the class. Always messing up ingredients or measurements or the whole thing. This time is no different. You look over the ingredients written the board and start to measure them out but as the class ends, your potion is a sickly green while everyone else's is a deep purple. You sigh and walk out of the dungeon. Classes go by; all of them are boring. In the middle of arithmancy, you remember your plan. You had to find Kira. At lunch, you catch her as soon as she got out of her Defense against the dark arts class. You hurriedly tell her your plan. A support group for all Slytherins. Mostly for talking about stereotypes about Slytherins and how they have affected us but really for anyone in need of support.
"Y/n, I love the idea, but shouldn't we talk to other Slytherins? I'm sure even just talking to Antoni and Kalama would suffice."
The head boy and girl! You wonder why you hadn't gone to them first. A swell of excitement seemingly pulsing through your body, you set out on a mission to find the duo. The world doesn't seem to exist, only this. You hadn't felt like this in years. The rush, excitement, freedom. You felt like you were 12 again. Kira laughed as she was pulled by you. Hand in hand. Just like in your first year. You had held her hand almost every day to class. Of course, then it was because you were nervous. Being a muggleborn in the Slytherin house can lead to some complications, especially with the stereotypes. You stopped suddenly, your dragged-along friend ramming into you. It would probably be better to find them later in the dorms. Still clutching your friend's hand you tell her that, asking if she would like to go sit under the whomping willow. Your favorite tree in the whole school. The tree seemed to like you, allowing you to sit under it without it trying to hit you. You held her hand the whole way over and she never objected. It was nice, her hand interlocking with yours. Two puzzle pieces. You felt your face get hot as you gazed up at her face, bits of black hair framing it beautifully. You wanted to kiss her. To turn her around and bring her lips to yours. You wanted to do things you never imagined before. Your ears got hot as you felt your under regions begin to tingle slightly. It was hard to breathe. Could she tell? You looked down and ripped your hand from hers.
"I, um, I have to go to the restroom. I'll be right back," you say quickly before rushing off.
What the hell? What the actual fuck is wrong with you? That is your best friend. Oh no oh no.
Your thoughts are racing as you run to the bathroom. The feeling down there has gone away. You tangle with the fact that that just happened when you look at the time. You have to head to your next class. You can't focus very well for obvious reasons for any of your remaining classes. At dinner, you don't eat much and do your best to avoid your friend. You would avoid her forever if you could. You rush to the dorms after dinner and climb the stairs as fast as possible. Landing on your bed with a soft thud, you start to pull out your homework. You abandon your robes and take off your tie, leaving you sitting there with a slightly unbuttoned white shirt and the classic pair of black trousers. You hear quick footsteps and the door opens quickly. Kira is standing there with a look of concern and anger.
"Y/fn, y/mn, y/ln! Are you ok? Why have you been avoiding me? Did I do something? If I did you are being such an ass by not telling me!" her voice breaks at the last sentence and her hands are balled up in fists. You have never seen her like this.
"I'm fine. Just busy. I'm sorry."
You mutter the lie but it doesn't seem she believes it. "Even busy at dinner when you were sitting alone, not eating anything? I was so worried."
"I'm fine Kira. I really am sorry. I was just trapped in my thoughts. Forgive me?"
She mumbles yes and sits next to you. She hugs you and you feel your face go pink again. You hear music and ask Kira if she wants to head down to the party. She accepts and a hand in hand you walk down the steps. Music fills your ears as green lights flash. As much as people would like to think, Slytherin's don't use drugs or drink or smoke anything. At least not at these parties. Too many first and second years. Wouldn't want to set a bad example. Though you had found out about the "grown-up parties" at the beginning of your third year. They usually do close the parties down by midnight. Again, at least these parties. Kira begins to dance to the music and yells at you to join her. You aren't much for dancing but at this point, fuck it. You dance all night until they shut it down quarter after midnight. You are high off the pure adrenaline and lay down next to your unfinished homework back in the dorms. You shove it to the side to leave it for tomorrow. Shoving your robe off your bed and onto the floor, you slide under the covers. You don't bother to change and fall asleep quickly.
"Morning, sunshine"
You wake up to Kira's face inches from yours. "Huh? What the fuck!?"
"Gottcha," she hands you a fresh pair of clothes and begins to walk away, "Get changed or else you're gonna be late to class." she finishes playfully.
You quickly get changed and head out into the common room and finally into the halls. They're quiet. Everyone must be at breakfast. You walk slowly down the halls and remember something you forgot. You forgot to talk to Antoni and Kalama about the support group. You tell yourself you will later and start walking at a faster pace down the halls till you are at a full sprint. Sliding to a stop at the doors, you enter the great hall. You quickly sit next to Kira and laugh as you grab a waffle from the never-ending stack at the center of the table. Nothing much happens the rest of the first month. Actually, it seems to fly by. First years finish getting settled in, you don't have another moment like the one at the whomping willow and you aren't late to class once! At soon as you can say House cup, Quiddich tryouts are beginning. You've never been a whiz on the broom. You could fly sure but not like a Quiddich player. Not your forte and not Kira's either, but it doesn't both you. You've never been one for clubs. Though with most of your house trying out for the team, you soon get a moment to talk to your heads of house.they are walking down the hall fro the dorms. You can't miss them. Not again.
"Guys! Wait up!"
"What is it y/n?"
You explain your plan to them and to your excitement, they agree. You have to tell Kira. You run to the library. She was studying for her charms class last you knew and guess that would be the best place to find her. When you got there though you see her pouring over a book, as you expected, but with Adam Brown, a Ravenclaw 6th year, leaning over her. His hand rests on her shoulder. You feel your face go hot as rage fills every aspect of your being. You walk over to the two and with the most passive-aggressive voice you can gather, tell Kira, "Hey sunshine. I've got some pretty exciting news. Meet me at the whomping willow at five? See you then babe." You walk away with the most confidence you've felt in a while. That feeling stays with you the whole day and when 5 o'clock rolls around the feeling has not faded. But when Kira shows up at the tree the feeling quickly dies away. She seems anything but happy.
"'Babe?' Really? What the hell was that!?" she yells, pushing you in the chest.
You push her back "What do you mean? So what, I got a little carried away. It's not like you like him or anything."
"Maybe I do! You don't know. Even if I do why should it matter? You still went too far. Sunshine I get. That's our funny little thing now. But we aren't dating and you probably made him think we are!"
"What's the issue with people thinking we are dating? Do you not like me?"
"Of course I still like you. As a friend!"
"Kira-"
"You know what? I don't even care what bullshit you have to tell me. See you back at the dorm." Her black hair flips quickly as she turns, storming off.
You lean against the tree in pure shock. You realize she was right, you went too far. Your thoughts are racing again as you get up to head to the great hall for dinner. The night passes in an uproar of angry looks and silence. That night you go to bed with Kira still angry. Her words and your own roll around of your tongue, leaving a bitter taste. 'Maybe I do!'. Those three words repeat in your head. You are better at putting words on paper rsther than out your mouth so you stand up and quietly creep down to the common room. It feels so cold; so lonely. The dim lights cast strange shadows across the room. The normally green water outside the window now took the form of a black void, preparing to pull you in. You sit, pulling out a quill and a piece of parchment. Taking a deep breath, you begin to write.
Dearest
No. That's wrong.
Dear Kira,
I would like to make my formal apologies. I was out of line when I called you babe and I can understand why you would be mad. I was mad for a reason I do not know as of now. I wanted to tell you that the heads of house agreed to the support idea. Forgive me?
Your friend,
y/n
You walked back up stairs and left it on her bedside table. Maybe tomorrow would be better.